Causes of Hair Fall

Hair fall, or hair loss, can be caused by several factors including hormonal changes (like those occurring during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause), medical conditions (such as thyroid disorders, alopecia areata, scalp infections, and trichotillomania), medications and supplements (used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout, and high blood pressure), and certain hairstyles and treatments (such as hair weaves, corn rows, or hot oil hair treatments).

Yes, high stress levels can contribute to hair fall. This typically happens in three types of hair loss: telogen effluvium (temporary hair shedding), trichotillomania (an irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body), and alopecia areata (the immune system attacks hair follicles, leading to hair loss).

Diet plays a significant role in hair health. Deficiencies in nutrients such as iron, vitamin D, biotin, protein, and other vitamins and minerals can lead to hair loss. Conversely, a balanced diet rich in these nutrients can support the health of your hair and help prevent hair fall.

Yes, certain medications can cause hair fall. These include drugs for cancer (chemotherapy), arthritis, depression, heart disease, gout, and high blood pressure. This usually isn't a common side effect and hair typically regrows once the medication is stopped.

Hormonal imbalances, particularly of hormones such as androgens and estrogens, can contribute to hair loss. For instance, conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which cause an imbalance of male hormones, can lead to hair thinning and loss on the head.

In some cases, hair fall can be a sign of a more serious medical condition. Sudden or unusual hair loss may be a symptom of an underlying disease, such as lupus, diabetes, or a thyroid disorder, and should be investigated by a healthcare professional.

While shampooing your hair doesn't cause hair fall, it can appear that way. People often lose hair naturally in the shower, and shampooing simply helps free those loose hairs. However, harsh shampoos or over-washing can damage hair and lead to breakage, which might be mistaken for hair loss.

Yes, frequent and improper use of hair styling tools such as straighteners, curling irons, and hair dryers can lead to damage and breakage, which may be mistaken for hair loss. Over time, they can weaken the hair shaft and lead to thinning and breakage.

As part of the natural aging process, the hair growth cycle slows down and more hair follicles go into the resting phase, which can result in hair thinning and loss. This is a normal part of aging and is not preventable.

Yes, smoking can contribute to hair fall. The toxins in smoke can damage the DNA in hair follicles and generate cell-damaging free radicals, both of which can lead to hair thinning and loss.

Chronic lack of sleep has been linked to a variety of health issues, including hair loss. Insufficient sleep can disrupt hormone regulation and affect the body's stress response, both of which can influence the health and growth cycle of hair.

Yes, excessive or improper use of chemical hair products like dyes, relaxers, or perms can damage the hair shaft and cause hair to break off or fall out. These products can also irritate the scalp, leading to inflammation that can result in hair loss.

Yes, hair fall can be genetic. The most common cause of hair loss, androgenetic alopecia (commonly known as male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness), is a hereditary condition that occurs with aging. It happens in predictable patterns, usually receding hairlines and bald spots in men, and thinning hair along the crown of the scalp in women.

Both men and women can experience hair fall, but it's more common and usually more severe in men, due to the pattern and extent of the baldness. This is largely due to genetic factors and hormonal differences between men and women.

Yes, environmental factors can contribute to hair fall. Prolonged exposure to pollutants, sunlight, and hard water can damage the hair and cause it to fall out. Similarly, changes in climate, such as dry or cold weather, can make hair brittle and more prone to breakage.